Activities

Activities 2017

SeptemberNBF funded research to evaluate and compare GTAP-BIO and the European GLOBIOM models. The international collaboration will serve to spread what we have learned about Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) modeling to the European continent and better inform their policy decisions. The European Commission is now reconsidering the data inputs GLOBIOM models used in Europe to predict ILUC. Read more

August 14-17, 9th Annual Biofuels-Science and Sustainability Tour Executive Director Tom Verry and Foundation Treasurer Lindsay Fitzgerald participated in the 9th Annual Iowa Biofuels Science & Sustainability Tour. The Foundation is a proud sponsor of the tour. The three-day event educated Congressional staffers and federal and state agency officials on sound, science-based technology and practices being adopted by the renewable fuels industry. Participants witnessed biodiesel and ethanol production firsthand as well as other next‐generation biofuels. “Over the past few years, the biofuels industry has faced many challenges to inconsistent federal and state policies, making growth in this industry a challenge,” stated Tom Verry. “This forum allows decision-makers the opportunity to observe the results of these policies in the field.” Click for agenda. Read the IRFA report here.

The National Biodiesel Foundation is working with the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (GWRCCC) and the Potomac River Boat Company to encourage the use of environmentally friendly biodiesel in new Potomac River ferries. With thousands of commuters and tourists using water taxis and ferries, biodiesel will have a positive impact on air and water quality. In addition, Potomac Riverboat Company and their parent company Entertainment Cruises have discussed biodiesel fueling solutions for their entire operation in several major cities. These include: Chicago, Boston, NY, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, and Norfolk. Read more.

May 23 and 25, NBF Sponsored GWRCCC’s Propane & Biodiesel School Bus Transportation Workshops. The purpose of the event was to brief school administrators, fleet managers, and elected officials on the benefits of using propane and biodiesel fuel. Review Ira Dorfman’s presentation here.

January 16-16, NBF’s Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: NBF directors and staff held their annual auction at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in San Diego, California. Conference participants bid on items such as tickets to a Cardinal’s game for 12 and autographed sports memorabilia. One hundred percent of all auction donations go to support sustainability research.

Activities 2016

September 22, Successful Diesel Tech Training in Exton, PA - Two hundred and eighty (280) participants tapped into the great mind of the National Biodiesel Boards technical expert, Steve Howell as he led the students through course material. The Biodiesel for Diesel Technicians Training Program is designed to educate and inform diesel mechanics and service technicians about the use of biodiesel blends in existing diesel engines. With this education, technicians will be able to better advise customers and their colleagues about the true impacts of using biodiesel and biodiesel blends in diesel equipment. Read more

September 21, NBF Hosts 2nd ILUC Workshop - This workshop series sprung from the inspiration of Beth Calabotta who has served as a knowledgeable and trusted advisor to production agriculture and especially the biodiesel industry. Thirty experts representing multiple national laboratories, industries, and academic institutions presented the latest improvements to lifecycle analysis and discussed next steps to further improve GHG emissions modeling. Research priorities... Read more

August 15-18, 8th Annual Biofuels-Science and Sustainability Tour-The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) recently hosted the Annual Biofuels: Science and Sustainability Tour. The Tour once again brought Washington, D.C. policymakers and regulators to Iowa for a firsthand look at the Iowa renewable fuels industry and agricultural community in action. The three-day educational tour provided participants an opportunity to engage in substantive dialogue with renewable fuels experts, agriculture leaders, and state and university officials on important policy matters, regulatory concerns and technical issues facing the renewable fuels industry. In addition, the Tour gave participants a hands-on experience with some of the most exciting breakthroughs taking place in Iowa’s most dynamic sector of the economy. Read more

March 30-31, National Biodiesel Foundation’s Sustainable Biodiesel: Improving the Environment and Economy Tour - This educational event included stops at the New York City Department of Sanitation and their emissions testing lab, local heating distributors such as Hart Home Comfort, which is offering Bioheat®, and the offices of the Natural Resources Defense Council where they use Bioheat® to help meet their carbon reduction goals. The tour was made possible through the generous donations of Genscape, HERO BX, Mid-America Biofuels, Minnesota Soybean Processors, the National Biodiesel Board, the Renewable Energy Group, and Western Iowa Energy. Plans are underway for hosting the next tour in 2017.

January 25-27, NBF's Annual Silent Auction Fundraiser: NBF directors and staff held their annual auction at the National Biodiesel Conference and Expo in Tampa, Florida. Conference participants bid on items such as tickets to a Cardinal's game for 12 and autographed sports memorabilia. One hundred percent of all auction donations go to support sustainability research. Read more

Activities 2015

November 17, NBF Co-sponsors GWRCCC's Fleet Managers Workshop -This workshop is designed to provide fleet managers with current state-of-the-art tools and information that will enable them to manage more efficiently. To review the agenda for this event, click here.

November 5, NBF Partners with HeroBX and Erie County Tech School to Fund Biodiesel Training Program - Rising to the challenge of building cars with better fuel economy, many auto companies are turning to diesel technology as a highly fuel efficient and clean option. More diesel vehicles on the road will likely mean more usage of biodiesel, and educators want to help mechanics understand how biodiesel works in diesel engines as the alternative fuel becomes more mainstream. This class is an Automotive Service Excellence-certified training program and qualifies for continuing education credits.

Activities 2014

Investing in Good Science Helps the Industry- The National Biodiesel Foundation recently awarded a grant to the National Biodiesel Board to improve the science of greenhouse gas (GHG) modeling. GHG reductions add to the economic and energy security benefits of biodiesel as an alternative fuel. For the complete report, click here.

Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition– Demonstrating the Value of Utilizing Biodiesel. The GWRCCC has been effective in helping a number of area fleets develop a plan to utilize biodiesel. For the complete report, click here.

Sound Science Prudent Policy – By Don Scott Find out more about indirect land use change. This presentation was given at the 2014 National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego, CA.

Activities 2013

California Environmental Biodiesel Exchange – The Iowa Soybean Association in collaboration with the National Biodiesel Board and the California Biodiesel Alliance hosted the informational exchange. Over three days, participants toured farms, oxbows, nutrient control systems, grain elevators, as well as biodiesel and ethanol production facilities. Topics included the biodiesel industry’s maturity; advanced, sustainable farming practices; and the latest efficiency improvements in biodiesel and soybean production. For full report, click here.

NY Biodiesel Impact Study– New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will soon have an opportunity to sign into law the recently-passed requirement to blend 2 percent biodiesel (B2) in all heating oil (Bioheat) sold in New York. The legislation requires all heating oil sold in the City of New York, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, and Rockland counties to contain at least 2 percent biodiesel by October 1, 2014, followed by the rest of the state by July 1, 2015. For the complete report, click here.

Impact of the Sales and Use of Tax Exemption for Biodiesel on the Economy of Illinois– This study examines the impact of the biodiesel industry for Illinois since the sales and use exemption was implemented and estimates the impact on the Illinois economy of the exemption for biodiesel from sales tax in terms of the employment, income, and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) directly and indirectly supported by the industry. Passage of Senate Bill 397, enacted as Public Act 97-0636 in December 2011, extends the exemption through 2018. Click here for full report.

5th Annual Biofuels-Science and Sustainability Tour-The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) recently hosted the 5th Annual Biofuels: Science and Sustainability Tour. The Tour once again brought Washington, D.C. policymakers and regulators to Iowa for a firsthand look at the Iowa renewable fuels industry and agricultural community in action. The three-day educational tour provided participants an opportunity to engage in substantive dialogue with renewable fuels experts, agriculture leaders, and state and university officials on important policy matters, regulatory concerns and technical issues facing the renewable fuels industry. In addition, the Tour gave participants a hands-on experience with some of the most exciting breakthroughs taking place in Iowa’s most dynamic sector of the economy. Click here for full report.

Activities 2012

Induced Land Use Change Associated with US Soy Biodiesel –The objective of this paper is to present the results of a new analysis of the induced land use change associated with US soy biodiesel. A specialized version of the GTAP-BIO model was used for this analysis. The new version of the model incorporates some new parameters and a new nesting structure for land cover. Click here for the full report.